Electric-arc lamp for multiple or parallel circuits.



PATENTED DEC. 29, 1903.

R. H. HENDERSON.

ELECTRIC ARC LAMP FOR MULTIPLE OR PARALLEL CIRCUITS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

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PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT H. HENDERSON, OF NEWVARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WEST- INGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRIC-ARC LAMP FOR MULTIPLE OR PARALLEL CIRCUITS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 748,185, dated December 29, 1903.

Application filed March 30, 1903. Serial No. 150,168. (No model.)

.To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT H. HENDERSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Newark, county of Essex, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric-Arc Lamps for Multiple or Parallel Circuits, of which the following isa specification.

In starting alternating-current multipleare lamps of the direct-lift type into operation the current which first flows through the lamps before the separation of the carbons is of considerable amperage, and this tends to cause the lifting-solenoids to jerk the cores, [5 clutch, and carbon violently upward before the points of the carbons have become sufficiently heated to convey the necessary current to maintain the arc. As a result the arc is not struck, the carbons fall together, and so. are again rapidly separated, causing in this way a continual chattering until the carbon points become heated enough to carry the proper current. This chattering is harmful under all circumstancesv and is liable to result in one of the three following conditions: First, the upper carbon is likely to rattle through the clutch and short-circuit the lamp; second, some part of the mechanism is likely to wedge or stick, causing the carbons to remain apartand open-circuit the lamp; third, some parts of the lamp, such as the rather delicate springs with which such lamps are provided, are likely to be broken. The usual way of attempting to overcome this difficulty is that of employing a dash-pot with a very tightly fitting piston; but this also has its disadvantages, as the piston is very apt to stick even during the otherwise normal operation of the lamp, but most generally on account 0 of the contraction due to cold. Such asticking of the dash-pot of course results in putting the lamp out of operation. Moreover,

by reason of the uncertain action of dashpot constructed as described a close regulation of the arc is impossible and the arc voltage and amperage vary continually. A directlift mechanism is also very susceptible to A drop in fluctuations in the line-voltage.

voltage often causes lamps to pump several times.

By means of the present invention I propose to dispense with the direct-lift feature, to introduce a loosely-fitting dash-pot device which always acts under the same conditions, and therefore does not need to fit tightly, and to dispense with the three or more springs which are necessary in the ordinary directlift lamp in order to start the lamp and insure noiseless operation.

With my mechanism herein described all of the jar of starting is removed from the carbons, which are gradually separated as the points heat up, thus slowly and properly striking the arc. Fluctuations in the linevoltage are scarcely noticeable in the are.

The mechanism which I have devised consists, broadly, of a reactance device in series with the electrodes, such reactance device having a floating core which operates against the force of acounterweight to keep the points of the electrodes together when the lamp is out of operation and to bring them together or toward each other when the terminal arcvoltage becomes too high in the normal operation of the lamp. The separation of the electrodes takes place through the action of the counterweight, which for any given lamp and any given state of-conditions is of a fixed though adjustable value, from which it follows that the dash-pot, which governs the effeet of the Weight, is always subject to the same conditions of operation and can therefore be adjusted for practically unchanged conditions; Under such circumstances the action of the weight can be made slow enough to permit the proper heating of the carbon points before such points are actually separated. When the separation has taken place and the arc is duly struck, the feeding and clutching of the carbons are then under the control of the floating core, already mentioned, and the counterweight, as will presently appear. The floating core, being freely movable inside the series solenoid, forms an automatic choking device which increases or decreases the inductance of the circuit as the action demands, thus making the arc far steadier than it would be if the minor fluctuations were all taken up in a directly-connected mechanism either of the direct-lift or feed-lever type.

An incidental advantage of the construction described is that the same solenoid may be used for direct-current and alternatingcurrent lamps. The amperage may be varied by the simple addition of weights to the core without any changein the lamp connections. Another advantage is that the described mechanism is able to accomplish successfully what is known as a sneak feed. As the core gradually sinks in the solenoid with the weakening of the current the clutch is brought downward until it trips. At this instant the core, not being connected to the lamp mechanism, rises and allows the clutch to grip the upper carbon before it drops down far enough to actually strike the lower carbon.

I have illustrated myinvention in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, the former showing partly in diagram, a side elevation of a lamp constructed in accordance with my invention and the latter illustrating a modification.

In Fig. 1, l and 2 are the electrodes. 3 is the holder for the upper electrode. 4 is the solenoid-coil in series with the electrodes, and 5 is the usual resistance, also in series with the electrodes. Only the main features of the lamp-frame are shown. Binding-posts appear at 6 6, being mounted in metallic pieces 7 7, usually of brass. Side rods8and 9 are secured by set-screws 10 10 to the said metallic pieces, and the latter are secured by any suitable means to an insulating-plate 11, of soapstone or the like. This plate is perforated and fitted with a steel washer 12, through which the upper electrode 1 passes. To the holder 3 is pivoted a lever 13, carrying an adjustable counterweight 14 and having suspended from it a link 15, connected with the clutch 16 for the upper carbon. The clutch may be of any preferred type. The dash-pot consists of the cylinder 17 and the piston and piston-rod 18, the latter being suitably swiveled or pivoted at 19 to the lever 13. The floating core of the solenoid 4 is shown at 20, the same being of laminated iron and adapted to rest atits lower end upon one end of the lever 13, as shown. In this way the core 20 becomes a counterpoise for the weight 14, and when no current is passing the core will overcome the counterweight and carry the parts into the position illustrated in Fig. 1. The circuit enters through the resistance 5, passes through the solenoid 4 to one or bothof the binding-posts 6, thence through one or both of the side rods and up through the electrodes, passing out from the upper electrode by way of the wire 21. When current begins to flow, the solenoid 4is energized, the core 20 is lifted, and the counterweight then gradually lifts the upper electrode, being prevented by the dash-pot from causing too suddenalifting movement. The degree of suddenness can be regulated once for all by asuitable adjustment of the weight 14 along the lever 13. When the arc has burned away until the terminal voltage is so high as to require a feeding of the carbons, the floating core 20 drops into contact with the lever 13 and pushes its inner end downward, thus tripping the clutch and either moving the carbons together into contact or accomplishing a sneak feed, as already described. During the intermediate periods between starting and again feeding the floating core, moving freely up and down within the solenoid-coils, causes the said coil to act as a choke-coil, taking up all of the minor fluctuations of the circuit and regulating the lamp.

In Fig. 2 the main distinction is that the core 20 is suspended from the end of the lever 13, being connected thereto by means of a rod 23 and a button 24. The rod 23 passes freely through a slot in the lever and exerts no moving effect thereon except when the core is in its lowermost position. The counterweight in this figure is shown as being constituted by a cylinder 17 of the dash-pot, the piston being stationary except for a slight vibrating motion upon its pivot 26 when the cylinder moves up or down. The latter is connected to the lever 13 by a link connection, as shown at 27. In this figure I have shown means consisting of a screw 28, entering the bottom of the core 20 for permitting a greater or smaller number of weights 29 29 to be added to or taken away from the core, so as to regulate its counterbalancing force. The same means may be used to vary the arm perage of the circuit without any change in the connections of the lamp.

I claim as my invention 1. In an electric lamp, an upper-carbon carrier, means normally tending to raise the same and strike the are, means for restraining the said arc-striking means, in combination with means for removing the restraining means when the lamp is operated, the said restraining and removing means consisting of a reactance device or choke-coil in series with the carbons.

2. In an electric-arc lamp, a pair of carbons, a weight acting on one of the carbons to separate it from the other, a series magnet whose core or armature preponderates over said weight when the lamp is not in operation, the said series magnet and its core serving as an inductance device or choke-coil for regulating the lamp-circuit.

3. In an electric-arc lamp, a pair of carbons, a counterpoise acting on one of the carbons to separate it from the other when the lamp is in operation, means for overcoming the said counterbalance when the lamp is out of operation, such means consisting of a floating laminated core, in combination with a solenoid surrounding the said core and connected in series with the carbons.

4. In an electric-arc lamp, a pair of carbons and a counterpoise acting on one of the carbons to separate it from the other, a solenoid in series with the carbons, the core or armature of said magnet preponderating over the said counterpoise when the lamp is out of operation, and relieving the said counterpoise when the lamp is in operation, the said core being a floating core and acting in combination with the solenoid as an inductance or choke-coil device for regulating the lamp-circuit.

5. In an electric-arc lamp, a pair of carbons, a counterbalance connected with one of ROBERT H. HENDERSON.

Witnesses:

WM. H. (JAPEL, THOS. H. BROWN, Jr. 

